Shower stool

ABSTRACT

A stool adapted for use in a shower is disclosed, having a triangular platform and three legs depending from the platform. A receptacle having a hinged, movable cover and adapted to hold a razor is located on the top surface of the platform. The legs are spaced inwardly from the edges of the platform to avoid intrusions from the shower wall. The stool is constructed of a light-permeable material and contains indicia which is visible from outside the platform.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a stool for use in a shower to facilitate theshaving or washing of a person's legs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common practice for a person to shave his or her legs. Womencustomarily shave their legs for cosmetic reasons, and both men andwomen often shave their legs when engaged in sporting activities such ascompetitive swimming or bicycle racing.

When a person desires to shave his or her legs, shaving most often isaccomplished when bathing, either in a bathtub or in a shower stall. Inboth situations, shaving the legs can be difficult and cuts to the skinor damage such as razor burns often occur, as shaving the legs is anawkward procedure. In this wet and soapy environment it is easy for theperson's leg to slip, which can result in cuts or other injuries. Theprocedure is further complicated by the unavailability of a convenientlocation for the person to place grooming aids when shaving. Whenshaving, it is generally necessary for the person to have shaving soapor shaving cream and a razor.

When standing in a shower stall, a person will generally lean from thewaist attempting to shave the lower leg portions. Another approach isfor the person to stand on one foot and maintain balance while bracingthe other foot against a wall of the shower stall. Either operation issomewhat hazardous as the person may slip or fall in the wet slipperyenvironment of the shower. Also, accessibility to grooming aids is notconvenient as generally these are either placed on the floor of theshower stall or maintained in a caddy suspended from the shower head.

Various prior devices have attempted to address one or more of theseproblems. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,857 shows a foot support foruse in a bathing enclosure having foot support surfaces, storage areasfor canisters, and a recess to receive a safety razor.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,926 discloses a foot support having an elevatingstructure including legs, a footrest with an angled sole, and holdersfor a razor and a shaving cream container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,435 discloses a wall-mounted foot support for useprimarily in a shower having a horizontally-inclined step plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,070 discloses a leg shave plate with an inclinedupper surface, designed to be mounted in the corner of a shower stall.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,545 shows a multi-purpose foot support having threereceptacles intended to hold a razor, fresh water, and shave gel,lotion, or soap.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,723 shows a shower stool in which the entire covermay be tilted upward about a hinge to provide access to a storage spacebelow the cover for storage of grooming aids.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,528 discloses a triangular shower foot rest forplacement in the corner of a shower stall, having a downwardly-slopedtop section and two shelf units in the back walls of the rest.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,448 shows a foot support having legs for support,indentations to follow foot contours, and a V-shaped prow to fit intothe corner of a shower stall.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 287,075 shows a shower stool with an angled footsupport surface that swings open to reveal a storage compartment.

The prior devices have certain disadvantages. First, none of the priorart devices provides a compartment for storage of a razor that can beclosed or covered to contain the razor without moving the entireplatform. Moving such a large component is cumbersome, especially in theconfined space of a shower, and requires the user to remove his or herfoot from the platform. Second, the prior art devices are not adequatelyadapted to be temporarily placed in the corner of a shower. Some of theprior devices are permanently placed in the shower corner. Still othersare intended to be temporarily placed there, but are not adapted toavoid intrusions from the shower wall, which could frustrate attempts toplace the device near the wall, or use the wall to brace forces exertedon the stool by the user. Third, the prior devices do not disclose meansby which to enhance the aesthetics of such devices or to tailor theaesthetics of such devices to different demographics of consumers.

The present invention is provided to solve the problems discussed aboveand other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not providedby prior stools of this type. A discussion of the features andadvantages of the present invention is deferred to the followingdetailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is a stool adapted for use in ashower comprising a triangular platform having a top surface, a bottomsurface and at least one support leg depending from the platform. Thestool includes a receptacle adapted to hold a razor and located on thetop surface of the platform, having a hinged movable cover.

In another embodiment, the stool includes a second receptacle having acylindrical shape adapted to hold a cylindrically-shaped container andhaving an opening located on the top surface of the platform.

In another embodiment, the stool has three legs depending from theplatform, each leg proximate each of the three corners of the platform.The legs are spaced inwardly from any of the three edges, so as to avoidcontact with shower wall intrusions.

In another embodiment, the platform is constructed of a light-permeablematerial, such as acrylic, and contains indicia within the platform andvisible from outside the platform.

In another embodiment, the platform has a step surface on the topsurface to provide a resting place for a person's foot.

In another embodiment, the stool includes a first step extending betweentwo of the legs, located below the bottom surface of the platform, and asecond step extending between the same two legs, located below the firststep.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a stool adapted for use in ashower, situated in the corner of a shower;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the stool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the stool of FIG. 1, a razor, and acontainer of shampoo;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the stool of FIG. 1 situated in thecorner of a shower;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of a stool adaptedfor use in a shower; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a stool adapted for use in a shower,containing indicia within the stool, which are visible from outside thestool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many differentforms, there are shown in the drawings, and will herein be described indetail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

Referring now in detail to the FIGS. and initially to FIGS. 1-3, thereis shown a stool 10 adapted for use in a shower to assist a person inshaving or washing his or her legs. The stool 10 generally comprises atriangular platform 11 having a top surface 17, a bottom surface 18, andthree support legs 12 depending from the platform 11. The platform 11preferably includes a razor receptacle 20, a container receptacle 22,and a step surface 14 where the foot of the user may be placed.Additional steps 15 are preferably located between the legs 12 of thestool 10, where they can also function as structural support for thelegs 12. The entire stool 10 is preferably made of a light-permeablematerial, containing indicia 50 located inside the stool 10 that arevisible from outside the stool 10.

The platform 11 is preferably triangular in shape, and most preferably aright triangle. The platform 11 of the stool 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3 isright-triangular. In an alternate embodiment, the platform 11 may not beright-triangular, as shown in FIG. 6. The right-triangular shape allowsthe stool 10 to fit closely in the corner 34 of a bathtub or shower, asillustrated in FIG. 1. Alternately, the platform 11 may be of anypractical shape. The stool 10 preferably has three legs 12, with one ofthe three legs 12 proximate to each of the three corners 19 of thetriangular platform 11. One of the three legs 13 is preferably longerthan the other two legs 12, creating an angled platform 11 that is notparallel to a base surface upon which the stool 10 sits. Such aconfiguration is more ergonomic for a person to rest his or her footupon. The stool 10 may have any number of legs 12 of varying lengths,particularly if the platform 11 is not triangularly shaped.

The legs 12 are preferably spaced inwardly from any of the three edges16 of the triangular platform 11 to allow the legs 12 to avoid contactwith shower wall intrusions. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the space betweenthe edges 16 of the platform 11 and the legs 12 allows the edges 16 ofthe platform 11 to contact the shower walls 30, while the legs 12 extendto the floor 31 of the shower unobstructed. Intrusions, such as a soapdish 33 or the curved area 32 where the shower wall 30 meets the showerfloor 31, are avoided. Alternately, leg 12 placement on the stool 10 mayvary, particularly if the geometry of the platform 11 is different.

The platform 11 preferably contains at least one razor receptacle 20 andat least one container receptacle 22, both of which are accessible onthe top surface 17 of the platform 11. The razor receptacle 20 isadapted to hold a razor 21, particularly a safety razor, and is ofsufficient size and shape to do so. Preferably, the razor receptacle 20is a shallow tray located in a cavity in the platform 11, with anopening in the top surface 17 of the platform 11 to permit access to thereceptacle 20. Drain holes 26 are preferably located in the bottom ofthe razor receptacle 20, allowing water to drain out of the receptacle20, rather than collecting there. Alternately, the razor receptacle 20may take any other suitable form. Still further, a razor receptacle 20may be capable of holding more than one razor 21.

The preferred razor receptacle 20 includes a hinged movable cover 24that may be opened or closed to expose or conceal the razor receptacle20. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the hinge 25 is preferably locatednear, and parallel to, the edge 16 of the platform 11. The cover 24 ispreferably the same size and shape as the opening of the razorreceptacle 20. In this configuration, the cover 24 is substantiallyflush with the top surface 17 of the platform 11 when closed. The razorreceptacle 20, cover 24, and hinge 25 may alternately take one of manyother possible forms. Finally, the stool 10 may contain more than onerazor receptacle 20, as shown in FIG. 6, or may not contain any razorreceptacle 20.

The container receptacle 22 is preferably cylindrical in shape and isadapted to hold a cylindrically-shaped container 23, such as a bottle ofshampoo or a can of shaving cream. The preferred container receptacle 22is a cylindrical cavity in the platform 11 with an opening in the topsurface 17 of the platform 11 to permit access to the receptacle 22.Drain holes 26 are preferably located in the bottom of the containerreceptacle 22, allowing water to drain out of the receptacle 22, ratherthan collecting there. Alternately, the container receptacle 22 may bedeeper, extending completely through the platform 11. In thisconfiguration, a basket, retaining tab, or similar structure (not shown)is necessary to support the container 23. The container receptacle 22may alternately take one of many other possible forms, and may be shapeddifferently to accommodate a different shape or type of container 23.Finally, the stool 10 may contain more than one container receptacle 22,as shown in FIG. 6, or may not contain any container receptacle 22.

A step surface 14 is preferably located on the platform 11 at the edge16 of the top surface 17. The step surface 14 provides an ergonomicresting place for the foot of a person shaving or washing his or herleg. The stool 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 has a step surface 14 located atthe edge 16 opposite the longer leg 13 of the stool 10. This stepsurface 14 is illustrated in more detail in the cross-sectional view inFIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the preferred step surface 14 is formed by arecess 40 in the top surface 17 and the edge 16 of the platform 11.Alternately, the step surface 14 may be substantially level with the topsurface 17. The step surface 14 preferably has a gripping surface 41 toenhance traction and prevent the user's foot from slipping on the stepsurface 14. Preferably, this gripping surface 41 is a series of ridges42 parallel to the edge 16 of the platform 11, but any relativelyhigh-friction or high-traction surface will function suitably.Additionally, the step surface 14 preferably contains drain holes 43that allow water to drain through the step surface 14, rather thanaccumulating there and causing a risk of slipping. As shown in thecross-sectional view in FIG. 4, the preferred step surface 14 containsboth ridges 42 and drain holes 43. The step surface 14 of the stool 10shown in FIG. 6 has a ridged gripping surface 41 and no drain holes 43,and is level with the top surface 17 of the platform 11. The stepsurface 14 may take one of many possible alternate configurations, ormay not be present at all.

The stool 10 preferably includes two steps 15 below the bottom surfaceof the platform 11, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. These steps 15 extend betweentwo of the legs 12 of the stool 10 directly below the step surface 14 onthe platform 11. The addition of these steps 15 allows the stool 10 tocontain three step surfaces of varying heights to comfortablyaccommodate persons of differing heights or degrees of flexibility. Inthis configuration, the steps 15 also function as structural supportsfor the legs 12 of the stool 10, increasing stability and strength. Likethe step surface 14 on the platform 11, these steps 15 preferablycontain a gripping surface 41 and drain holes 43. FIG. 4 illustrates astool 10 containing two steps 15 having a ridged gripping surface 41 anddrain holes 43. The stool 10 may alternately have a greater or smallernumber of steps 15, or may have no steps 15 at all.

The stool 10 is preferably constructed of a light-permeable material,allowing at least some light to pass through, such as a translucent,transparent, or semi-transparent material, or the like. More preferably,the stool 10 is made from a transparent material, which is mostpreferably acrylic. In the preferred embodiment, decorative indicia 50are located within the platform 11. The light-permeable material allowssuch indicia 50 to be visible from outside the stool 10, as shown inFIG. 7. The indicia 50 may be either three dimensional or thin andsubstantially two dimensional, and may be engineered to appealaesthetically to different demographics of consumers. For example, theindicia 50 can comprise a series of small flowers or golf balls,intended to appeal generally to female and male users, respectively. Thestool 10 may contain one or more of a nearly limitless variety ofindicia 50, to appeal to persons with specific interests. In alternateembodiments, the entire stool 10, or any portion thereof, may be lightpermeable and/or contain indicia 50.

When connected, the above-described components form a stool 10, as shownin FIGS. 1-7. The legs 12 depend from the platform 11 and support theplatform 11 above the base surface upon which the legs 12 rest. Therazor receptacle 20 and the container receptacle 22 contain openings inthe top surface 17 of the platform 11, to be easily accessible. Thehinged cover 24 of the razor receptacle 20 is located at the edge 16 ofthe top surface 17 of the platform 11. The step surface 14 of theplatform 11 is located at the edge 16 of the platform 11 opposite thelongest leg 13 of the stool 10. The additional steps 15 are located, oneabove the other, directly below the step surface 14 on the platform 11,forming a three-stepped stool 10.

The stool 10 facilitates shaving or washing a person's leg in the showerby providing several ergonomic steps 14,15 for elevating the leg abovethe floor. The elevation of the person's leg allows the leg to be shavedor washed without requiring the user to bend excessively at the waist orsit down. The gripping surface 41 increases the safety of the stool 10by reducing or preventing the user's foot from slipping off the stool10. Additionally, the placement of the stool 10 in the corner 34 of theshower prevents the stool 10 from slipping on the floor 31 of theshower, further increasing the safety of the stool 10. A razor 21 can beplaced in the razor receptacle 20 for convenient access and storage.This eliminates the likelihood of misplacing the razor 21 and keeps therazor 21 within easy reach at all times during shaving. Similarly, acontainer 23 of soap, shampoo, shaving cream, or similar substance canbe placed in the container receptacle 22 for convenient access andstorage. When placed in the receptacle 22, the container 23 will bewithin easy reach at all times during shaving or washing. The stool 10described herein allows a person to shave or wash his or her leg withincreased ease and safety.

While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limitedby the scope of the accompanying claims.

1. A stool adapted for use in a shower comprising: a triangular platform having a top surface and a bottom surface; a receptacle adapted to hold a razor and located on the top surface of the platform, the receptacle having a hinged movable cover; and a support leg depending from the platform.
 2. The stool of claim 1, wherein the cover is movably attached to the platform via a hinge mechanism.
 3. The stool of claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes a drainage means for permitting water to drain through the receptacle.
 4. The stool of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support legs depending from the platform.
 5. The stool of claim 1, further comprising a second receptacle having a cylindrical shape adapted to hold a cylindrically-shaped container and having an opening located on the top surface of the platform.
 6. The stool of claim 5, wherein the second receptacle includes a drainage means for permitting water to drain through the receptacle.
 7. A stool adapted for use in a shower comprising: a triangular platform having a top surface and a bottom surface, three corners, and three edges; a first leg depending from the platform proximate a first of the three corners and spaced inwardly from any of the three edges, the first leg adapted to avoid contact with shower wall intrusions; a second leg depending from the platform proximate a second of the three corners and spaced inwardly from any of the three edges, the second leg adapted to avoid contact with shower wall intrusions; and a third leg depending from the platform proximate a third of the three corners.
 8. The stool of claim 7, wherein the third leg is spaced inwardly from any of the three edges, the third leg adapted to avoid contact with shower wall intrusions.
 9. The stool of claim 7, further comprising a step extending between the first leg and the second leg, the step located below the bottom surface of the platform.
 10. The stool of claim 7, further comprising a second step extending between the first leg and the second leg, the step located below the first step.
 11. The stool of claim 7, wherein the third leg is longer than the first leg and the second leg and the platform is not parallel to a base surface upon which the first, second, and third legs rest.
 12. The stool of claim 7, wherein the first and second legs are of equal length.
 13. A stool adapted for use in a shower comprising: a platform constructed of a light-permeable material; a step surface located on the platform; and a plurality of legs depending from the platform.
 14. The stool of claim 13, further comprising indicia located within the platform and visible from outside the platform.
 15. The stool of claim 14, wherein the indicia are substantially two-dimensional.
 16. The stool of claim 14, wherein the indicia are three-dimensional.
 17. The stool of claim 13, wherein the light-permeable material is acrylic. 